By: Natasha Archary

On this week’s “make it make sense” feature, Ayanda Nyathi breaks down the truth about artificial sweeteners.
Joining the Drive 959 team on the discussion, Dr Tracy Nelwamondo shared whether artificial sweeteners are healthier than normal sugar.
We’ve all seen the “zero sugar” options on beverages and some food items and for people who are living with Diabetes, alternative sugar options like Aspartame, Xylitol, Sorbitol, and Sucralose have become a way of life.
Dr Nelwamondo says we are in trouble when it comes to our sugar intake, our weight and overall health, saying the introduction of artificial sweeteners came as a means for people to control the amount of refined sugar they consume.
“Sweeteners, there’s a lot of them and we need to divide them into artificial sweeteners, meaning the ones made in a facility or a lab and then also plant-based or plant-derived which is said to be a little more natural.
The reason why artificial sweeteners taste sweeter than normal sugar is because that small sachet is actually 2 to 3 times sweeter than normal sugar.
For example Aspartame is actually 200 times sweeter than sugar because it is made in a lab.”
Dr Nelwamondo says too much of anything is a bad thing and she advises people to not to start consuming drinks and beverages that claim to have no sugar or sugar alternatives.
Listen to the conversation on Drive 959:
Also read: A loaf of bread for 99c? Yes, with FNB eBucks & PnP



